Synergizing Omic Science with Patient Reported Outcomes

Title of proposed idea: Synergizing Omic Science with Patient Reported Outcomes  

Nominator: NIH Institutes/Centers

 Major obstacle/challenge to overcome: Current breakthroughs in omic research have increased awareness that diseases are complex disorders arising in response to the interaction among multiple genes, cellular metabolites, and environmental factors. In addition, there is growing speculation that how a person experiences illness may be genetically predisposed. Hence, a new era suggests scientific progress towards innovations in health will require the integration of diverse information from biologic processes, physiologic pathways, and behavioral models in order to predict and treat disease, improve survival, manage symptoms and enhance quality of life. This symbiosis of disparate knowledge is necessary to ensure biomedical science improves health through its translation into practical clinical applications. Therefore, fostering synergy between omic science (genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics) and patient reported outcomes such as symptoms (‘‘sympt-omics ‘’) and health-related quality life (HRQL) may promote new pathways for reducing burdens associated with chronic illness and enhance personalized health

Emerging scientific opportunity ripe for Common Fund investment:   Progress in this area promises to fill gaps in broadening the links between genetic and molecular variants and patient reported outcomes in chronic illness. This opportunity will: 1) support cross-cutting research with substantial potential to create new perspectives for reducing the illness burden of chronic health conditions; and 2) encourage collaborative teams of diverse, interdisciplinary investigators to tackle the complex health and research challenges posed by chronic illness and to turn their discoveries into practical solutions for patients.

Common Fund investment that could accelerate scientific progress in this field:

• Identification of molecular biomarkers and other classifiers to assess individual susceptibilities to variations in patient reported outcomes such as symptoms and HRQL.
• Development of novel methods, including modeling approaches and use of emerging technologies to measure and predict associations among omic variants and patient reported outcomes, such as symptoms and HRQL.
• Design and testing of tailored interventions to improve treatment outcomes that are founded in the linkages among omic variants and patient reported outcomes, such as symptoms and HRQL.

Potential impact of Common Fund investment: Synergy of omic profiling with practical application to patients will allow new pathways for improving treatment outcomes to emerge and ultimately reduce the chronic illness burden and enhance personalized health across the lifespan.